Written by 1 Mississippi intern in Mississippi, Mark River Peoples*
Upon return from the Circumnavigation of St.Louis Expedition, we drift back to society and reality with a different perspective of the world. You have reassured yourself that your mental and physical condition is intact, which refreshes your journeys and dreams. We return to base camp licking our wounds and keeping promises made during our departure. The ones you make on your way out the door, which is a reassurance that you would return. Emma Lou, John Ruskey’s 4-year-old daughter, unfazed by the significance and priority of our expedition, made him promise to include her on the next trip. Promises between human beings, especially Father to Daughter, are the building blocks for developing a lifetime relationship built on trust, honesty and unconditional love. It creates the foundation to build healthy levels of self-esteem and self-worth in our sacred women. It’s the same promise you make as a River Citizen. As a great father does, he keeps his promise, and we’ll have an overnight trip with students from the biology department at Ole Miss. Emma Lou, at the age of 4, is a seasoned “river gal” and citizen. She’s very comfortable in a canoe or paddleboard.
Regrets in life are thoughts and actions that stick to your inner core, inhibiting progress and pursuit of goals, and creating wing-dikes in your path and passions of life. The one thing we never want to regret is the fact that we ignored our freshwater resources and its importance to human anatomy and physiology. The key ingredient for existence of all life forms. The Mississippi River supplies 18 million people with freshwater daily for the monetary equivalent of one cent per gallon, but we neglect and pollute it at alarming rates as if supply is infinite. My regrets in life include missing my brother William Eugene Peoples’ wedding, various infidelities of my youth, and giving up the game winning touchdown on homecoming at Central Missouri State. Believe me, I deal with them everyday, exercising the fortitude to move on daily. I would hate to feel this way about freshwater.
We start our day in great spirits. It’s always wonderful when 1 Mississippi‘s youngest River Citizen and Quapaw “squaw” joins us. It shifts responsibility for the journey, but also gives us an opportunity to see our leader engage and enjoy the duties of fatherhood. We corral and saddle our horses, preloading our gear and supplies, waterproofing our guests, and creating chemistry with our new River friends. The “river gal” takes over the crowd, showing off her River Citizen pin, giving me the honor of signing new team members. John gives his speech, as if a coach of a team, and we head to my favorite launch pad–Quapaw Landing. Quapaw Landing is located along a chute between mainland Coahoma County and Island 63. One of the Mighty Quapaws training rituals is to circumnavigate the 15-mile outside perimeter of Island 63. It gives you experience and knowledge of various type of water flowing along the River, forcing you to adapt to all of them.
A Quapaw launch ensues, perfectly executed, amazing the new River Citizens, and introducing them modestly to the River. “Dinky” captains the “Junebug 2,” and I, “Mark River,” the “Ladybug.” It’s an honor to have father and daughter at the bow–dad with paddle and daughter with drum. We ride the current through the chute, to the confluence, and the landscape and natural settings widen as if to welcome us with open arms. The day is perfect. The refraction of the sunlight creates a picturesque and pristine Mississippi River. Beautiful sand bars and islands give the look of the Caribbean. Everyone gets the holy spirit, as the ferry crossings full of enthusiasm and joy. Most biologist are systematically trained in hydrology, the study of water, so having future biologists with us creates a strong team of River lovers and citizens. Our goal is to relax, enjoy and explore our beautiful river. We spend the day exploring and meandering through various sloughs, chutes, islands and oxbow lakes–having interactions with wildlife and nature. A campsite emerges on the leeward side of Island 68, so we secure and water our horses and collect wood for the fire and feast. The professor treats his students and the Mighty Quapaws to a delicious “camp” stew consisting of cabbage, celery, onion, carrots, red potatoes, green beans, garlic, and sausage on the side, to comply with non-meat eaters. Before the feast, the group participate in an island ultimate Frisbee game. Emma Lou slows her play, stares at the unusual game, while continuously sliding towards the slick bank of a blue hole. I step in, “Emma Lou be careful.” She looks up with confidence, “I’m a river gal, we’re always careful.”
Around the campfire, nourishing our minds and bodies, we discuss our ambitions and goals in life. One student from Oregon was a graduate student studying the properties in cranberries which aid in curing bladder infections. A pair had plans to canoe the Mississippi River from Cairo, Ill., to the Arkansas River taking water samples from various tributaries along the way. The professor was researching the concentration of freshwater plankton and algae in the lower Mississippi, looking to find how it affects the population and distribution of invasive species. The night is beautiful, some bypass the tents to sleep under the stars.
“Whoooo-wute!” That’s the Mighty Quapaw universal language of communication and alarm clock. I hear it in my sleep, so I know the Creator has blessed us with another day. The sun’s glistening off the water inspires Emma Lou to make up a new word. “Aqua-tastic!” she claims. “It’s time to paint!” The group enjoys our second day of perfect weather and settings. We’re on “River time,” so there’s no hurry to continue because we have the whole day to get to the shuttle, just around the visible bend. The swimming and exploring continues; I could see the appreciation and relaxation of the students, having the opportunity to “chill” and recharge their batteries before finals.
I have to say, the trip was “AQUATASTIC”!
Mark River Peoples
1 Mississippi Southern Region Intern
*Field Notes is a new series from the 1 Mississippi campaign, created and developed by our regional campaign interns as a means to encourage River Citizen engagement and to help our interns grow as environmental leaders.